Ten minutes later, the battle was over.
The forest was left in ruins, with only countless barren stumps remaining. The ground was dotted with large craters still smoldering with embers. As expected, Naruto had decisively defeated Jiraiya with overwhelming power.
“Ugh…” Jiraiya was on one knee, gasping for breath. His sweat mixed with blood dripped continuously onto the ground. Facing Naruto, who wielded both the Rinnegan and the power of the Nine-Tails and without the time to enter Sage Mode, Jiraiya had been outmatched.
Could this be the end for the gallant Jiraiya, to die here today?
Naruto walked over to Jiraiya, looking down at him with a cold expression. “For the sake of Konan-sensei and my father, I’ll spare your life this once. Do not come looking for us again.”
Without waiting for Jiraiya to respond, Naruto turned and left with Konan and Karin.
As he watched their retreating figures, there was no relief on Jiraiya’s face, only despair. Ever since that fateful day decades ago, when he accidentally used the Reverse Summoning Jutsu and found himself in Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya had dedicated his life to finding and guiding the prophesied Child of Prophecy to bring about change in the ninja world.
This was his purpose.
But now, he had failed.
No, he couldn’t give up so easily. He had to persevere.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and pushed through the pain to stand. His eyes regained their determination. There had to be a way.
The next day, at another Akatsuki hideout.
Summoning Jutsu!
Naruto slammed his hand onto the ground, and with a rumbling quake, a fearsome face with “王” carved on its forehead rose from the earth: the King of Hell.
Standing opposite the King of Hell was Karin, who was about to be interrogated. Konan watched coldly from the side, her voice icy: “Naruto, begin.”
Naruto nodded, then turned to Karin. After a moment of thought, he asked suddenly: “Karin, do you have feelings for Uchiha Sasuke?”
Huh? Konan’s eyes widened in surprise.
What is Naruto doing? Karin was stunned, not expecting this question at all. Seeing her confusion, Naruto shook his head and reminded her seriously: “I advise you to tell the truth. The King of Hell can read your heart and determine if you’re lying. If you lie, your tongue will extend and be devoured by the King of Hell, turning you into a mute.”
Karin glanced nervously at the King of Hell’s gaping maw, feeling a chill run down her spine. After a few seconds of silence, she gritted her teeth and confessed: “Yes, I like Sasuke.”
As soon as she spoke, the King of Hell opened its mouth, seemingly about to act, but then remained still. Karin had told the truth.
“Next question,” Naruto continued without any reaction to her answer. “Did you betray the Akatsuki and defect to Konoha?”
“No.” Karin’s response was immediate and resolute.
The King of Hell remained motionless. Karin hadn’t lied.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Konan: “Konan-sensei, it seems Karin isn’t a problem.”
Really?
Konan frowned, looking sternly at Naruto: “Naruto, are you putting on a show for me to cover for Karin? Stop using these trivial methods and read her memory directly.”
Before Naruto could respond, Konan sighed: “Never mind, I almost forgot. Uchiha Dan also has the Rinnegan. Altering someone’s memory would be easy for him. Even if you read her memory, you might not find any clues.”
Feeling wronged and on the verge of tears, Karin spoke up: “Konan-sensei, I’ve never betrayed you or Naruto, nor the organization… I did have feelings for Uchiha Sasuke, but I know I was wrong. I’ll forget him forever. Please give me another chance.”
“Enough.” Konan turned away, not looking at her.
In the ninja world, it was common for spies to be turned into double agents. Even if there was only a one percent chance Karin had defected, Konan couldn’t take the risk. Falling into Uchiha Dan’s trap would be disastrous for Akatsuki.
Would they have to deal with Karin here?
Seeing Konan’s determination, Naruto finally told Karin, “Leave.”
What?
Karin trembled and looked at Naruto with pleading eyes. But he remained unmoved.
“From today, you are no longer a member of Akatsuki. I’m sorry, Karin, you must go,” Naruto said emotionlessly.
“But, Naruto…” Karin tried to plead, but he cut her off with one word.
“Go!” Naruto’s voice was stern, and a powerful repulsive force blasted Karin away, slamming her into the wall.
Shinra Tensei.
“Ugh.” Karin hit the ground, coughing up blood, her face pale. Naruto didn’t spare her a glance, turning to Konan: “Konan-sensei, let’s go. Uchiha Dan could come at any time.”
In his heart, he silently spoke to Karin:
Karin, let me bear all of this. The mission and responsibilities of Akatsuki, and the sins that come with it, leave them to me. I’ll stay by Konan-sensei’s side and walk this path to the end.
You, pursue the life you want.
Be happy, Karin.
Konan saw the softness in Naruto’s heart. Outwardly, he was as cold as ice, but he had never changed inside, he was still that kind-hearted boy.
Kindness wasn’t a flaw, but as the leader of Akatsuki, being too kind-hearted wouldn’t help him deal with an enemy like Uchiha Dan.
Konan sighed inwardly but said nothing more.
The two quickly left, disappearing from Karin’s sight.
“Ugh…” Karin wiped the blood from her mouth, struggling to stand.
Despite Naruto’s Shinra Tensei, she wasn’t severely injured. She knew Naruto had done it for the show, to convince Konan.
“Thank you, Naruto,” she whispered, standing in place for a long time, her thoughts swirling. Where should she go now? Return to Konoha? But she had just betrayed Lady Tsunade, and now, being kicked out of Akatsuki, she couldn’t shamelessly return to Konoha, hoping they’d accept her.
She couldn’t go back.
Karin, what should you do now? Lost in thought, she felt unprecedentedly confused.
Forget it.
For now, she needed to leave.
With a heavy heart, Karin walked away alone.
In Konoha’s Hokage office, Dan stood at the large window, overlooking the village. “The hidden rats should be getting restless.”
He had spread the rumor that his ambition was to collect all nine Tailed Beasts and become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, gaining invincible power and immortality.
This would surely stir people like Black Zetsu, Naruto, and Hiruzen Sarutobi into action.
As a result, the first Hokage, the second Hokage, and other historical figures might soon be resurrected and gathered in Konoha, creating a lively scene.
Dan had already instructed Kakashi and Hiashi Hyuga to have the Anbu and police forces strengthen the village’s defenses.
Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the prey to come to him.
Oh.
Dan suddenly remembered it was his younger son’s birthday.
After his daughter Marissa, Dan and Samui had another child, a boy named Uchiha Hagoromo.
Yes.
Dan’s son shared the name with Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
Naming his son after the Sage wasn’t out of whimsy but high hopes. Just like how Fugaku named his younger son after Hiruzen’s father, Sarutobi Sasuke, Dan followed the same tradition.
Half an hour later, Dan returned to the Uchiha clan grounds, greeted by warm smiles and bows from the clan members as he approached his home.
Creak.
He pushed open the gate and heard a loud thud.
Marissa, wearing a white tank top and black shorts, was sweating as she lifted a barbell weighing several hundred kilograms and dropped it to the ground, causing the earth to shake.
Beside her stood a small boy with blonde hair, barely reaching her waist, struggling with a dumbbell weighing only a few kilograms, sweating profusely. This was her younger brother, Uchiha Hagoromo.
Thud.
Exhausted, Hagoromo set down the dumbbell and panted, asking his sister, “Sister, can I become strong like you through training?”
Admiring her muscles, his eyes were full of envy and admiration.
“Haha, of course.” Marissa laughed heartily, ruffling his hair. “Even if you can’t become strong, I’ll always protect you.”
She handed him a towel to wipe his sweat.
“Sister, you’re the best.” Hagoromo clung to her leg, acting spoiled.
If Marissa, with her black hair and tall, muscular frame, was like a female version of Dan, then Hagoromo, with his blonde hair and shy demeanor, was more like Samui.
The bond of siblings that ran deep in the Uchiha clan was evident in these two. Marissa doted on her brother, and Hagoromo admired his sister. They had never quarreled.
At that moment,
Marissa sensed something, turning to see her father standing at the gate.
Crack.
She clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit as she stared at Dan.
“Sister, no!” Hagoromo realized her intent, shouting, but it was too late.
Whoosh.
Marissa shot forward like an arrow, charging at Dan.
Ten meters, five meters, three meters.
Dan stood still, coldly watching her approach, as if used to this.
Finally, as the distance closed to one meter, Marissa shouted:
“Za Warudo!”
Time instantly stopped. Everything froze in the sky, the leaves in the wind, even her father.
Behind her, her Stand, Star Platinum, appeared, cold and imposing.
In this frozen world,
“Take this punch! Ora!”
Marissa swung at Dan’s face, fast and precise.
But just as her fist was about to land,
Dan’s hand moved, catching her wrist, stopping her punch mere centimeters from his face.
Marissa stared in shock as Dan said calmly, “You can stop time for two seconds now? Impressive, my daughter.”
Then,
Dan’s Stand, The World, towering over two meters taller than Star Platinum, appeared behind him, exuding terrifying pressure.
“Dad…”
Marissa and Star Platinum both froze in fear, unable to move as Dan’s time began.
“And,” Dan smiled, tapping her forehead, “next time, don’t shout your attack’s name. It’s flashy but foolish.”
As he spoke, The World raised a fist and, like a meteor, smashed down on Star Platinum.
Time resumed.
Boom!
Star Platinum was sent crashing into the ground, creating a large crater.
As the Stand is a manifestation of one’s spirit, its injuries affected Marissa.
Thud.
Marissa fell to her knees before Dan, blood trickling from her mouth and nose.
“My daughter is so filial, always eager to kneel before me. It warms my heart,” Dan said with a kind smile, patting her shoulder. “Stand up.”
A gentle breeze blew through the yard.
A daughter kneeling, a father smiling—it was a scene of perfect familial love.
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